The Australian Education Union has an unequivocal position on the militarisation of eduction through the participation of weapons companies:
“The AEU condemns… the use of Australian schools by the Defence Department [to draw] secondary students into the government’s development of new industries focused on armament manufacture and industries associated with warfare.”
In a recent news piece, the union – which represents more than 185 000 teachers across Australia’s public education system – has reiterated its opposition to the militarisation of education, and “any moves that allow commercial interests – rather than pedagogy – to shape educational policy and practice.”
STEM programs that continue to be associated with weapons companies risk losing the endorsement of teachers, their key stakeholders.
Read more about the AEU’s position in the AEU News.